# US 4,391,454 A · Utility cart with detachable and reversible shelves

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- Number: US 4,391,454 A
- Document ID: US4391454A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/137,388
- Filed: 1980-04-04
- Granted: 1983-07-05
- Earliest claimed: 1980-04-04
- Inventors: Douglas D. Marsh; Arthur E. Feldman; John C. Newlin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391454A

## CPC

- A47B 31/00: Service or tea tables, trolleys, or wagons ({serving trays A47G23/06}; features relating to running gear or to movement by hand B62B)
- B62B 3/005: {Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks}
- B62B 3/006: {for stacking objects like trays, bobbins, chains}
- B62B 3/02: involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
- Y10T 403/4602: Corner joint
- A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B)
- B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A utility cart having detachable and reversible shelves comprising a pair of end frames each having a pair of elongated rigidly connected upright hollow supports which are parallel and spaced apart. A horizontal orthogonal shelf device is detachably secured at the corners to said upright supports. One shelf device includes a flat bottom and two transverse flanges on opposite parallel side edges to provide a partial closure, the opposite ends being open. A mounting bracket is secured to each end of each flange and has an attaching portion projecting angularly inwardly. Each attaching portion engages the respective upright support at a point within the angle defined by the shelf corner. Each support is further provided at such engagement point with a threaded opening through one wall thereof. A screw is received through an opening in each bracket and is threaded into the threaded opening for securing the shelf device to the upright supports. A different shelf device may be formed in two portions with a median wall portion upstanding from the bottom against which books may be arranged.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A utility cart having reversible shelves comprising a pair of end frames, each having a pair of elongated rigidly connected upright hollow supports which are parallel and spaced apart, each end frame having an end panel secured to said upright supports, an orthogonal shelf device detachably secured at the corners to said upright supports: said shelf device including two parallel flanges on opposite side edges and being essentially open at the opposite ends thereof, one mounting bracket secured to each end of each flange and having an attaching portion projecting angularly inwardly, each attaching portion engaging the respective upright support at a point within the angle defined by the shelf corners; each support having at said engagement point a threaded opening through one side thereof, and one fastener received by an opening in each attaching portion and being threaded into said threaded opening for securing said shelf device to said upright supports, said flanges extending between said pair of end frames and said panels being juxtaposed with the opposite ends of said shelf device thereby serving as end closures therefor, said shelf device also having a bottom formed with two portions angling downwardly from said two flanges, respectively, and an upstanding inverted V-shaped wall portion connected at the lower edges to the inner facing edges of said two bottom portions, respectively, said wall portion including two back panels and being provided at each end of one back panel thereof with an elongated plate like bracket which generally lies in a plane at right angles to said one back panel, each said bracket extending into the apex portion of said wall portion and having an opening for receiving a fastener, and a fastener extending through an opening in each end panel and into each said bracket opening for supporting said wall portion with respect to said end frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cart of claim 1 wherein said end panels have flat indentations therein in which said openings are disposed, said indentations being counter-sunk about the apertures therein, and each said fastener is threaded and provided with a head, each said head being received within the countersink and each fastener being threadly received by said bracket opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cart of claim 1 wherein the opposite end edges of said bottom and wall portions have reinforcing flanges, each said bracket being welded to one of said end flanges on a wall panel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cart of claim 1 wherein each said opening is formed in a stepped portion on the end of said bracket which fits into said apex portion, said stepped portion being inset from the end of said wall portion.